Baldwinsville high school broadcasts calculus class to students in Cortland County

Stephen D. Cannerelli / The Post-StandardPamela Cassidy teaches a calculus for college credit course to seniors at Charles W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville. Her class is also video conference to students at McGraw High School in Cortland County. The McGraw students (left part of monitor) see what calculations are projected on the large screen in the Baldwinsville classroom (right part of monitor).

Baldwinsville, NY -- Baker High School math teacher Pamela Cassidy teaches a college calculus course to 35 students every morning – 31 of them are seated in front of her and four others are 50 miles away at McGraw High School in Cortland County.

The McGraw students watch her on a television screen through video conferencing. Cameras in both classrooms allow the students to interact. McGraw students can join in on discussions and ask questions as if they were right in the classroom.

“Other than glitches with the technology, the class has been going great,” Cassidy said.

The students turn in their homework by faxing it to Cassidy in the morning and she e-mails tests and quizzes to the librarian at McGraw the day of the exams. Cassidy said.

“With this technology, we’re able to offer a variety of courses that a smaller district can’t offer,” Cassidy said.

There are 463 seniors at Baker High School and the school offers about a dozen Advanced Placement courses and about 20 other college-level classes. At McGraw there are fewer than 45 students in 12th grade and the rural district offers two or three college-level courses each year.

McGraw Superintendent Mary Curcio said the district is very thankful to be able to partner with Baldwinsville to make the course possible. The district does not pay Baldwinsville for the class.

“I believe in this collaboration because it’s best for our kids,” Curcio said. “Obviously having a teacher in the classroom is best but this allows our students to take the course when we weren’t able to offer it due to scheduling constraints.”

Curcio said the district was not able to schedule an AP calculus this year and a parent approached the district seeking a solution for her child. Curcio sent an e-mail out to superintendents in the area asking for help. Baker High School took on that request.

“We are very grateful to be able to help a smaller district,” said Baker High School Principal Joseph DeBarbieri.

Curcio said this type of collaboration is healthy for schools in CNY.

“We have to get passed the ‘this is my district’ and ‘this our district’ attitudes. During the tough economic times, we are all New York schools,” Curcio said. “When big schools reach out to little schools, it’s best for all the kids.”